Roller bit



J. C. STOKES ROLLER BIT Filed Sept. 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. a475 BY a e M ATTORNEY.

J. C. STOKES Oct. 21, 1936.

ROLLER BIT Filed Sept. 6, 19 27 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

INVENTOR.

5 the two sections;

Patented Oct. 21, 1 930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. STOKES, OFHOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB TO REED ROLLER BIT COMPANY, OF

' HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF ROLLER BIT Application filedSeptember 6, 1927. Serial No. 217,675.

.T his invention relates to deep weH drilling apparatus and moreparticularly to roller bits.

Its object is the provision of a roller bit embodying new and improvedmeans to drive, support and clean the roller cutters thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of the theinvention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig.

0 2, a partly sectional elevation; Fig. 3, a bottom plan view; Fig. 4, asection on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a partly sectionalelevation of a modification.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 3

.5 and 4, the bit head comprises a main section 1 adapted to be attachedto a drill ipe (not s own), and a longitudinally divisiiile cuttersection 2. The lower ends 3 of the two parts of which the cutter section2 is made are beveled to define a recess in the bottom of the head.Substantially frusto-conical cutters 4 are rotatably mounted on spindleswhich pro- ]ect downwardly and inwardly from the ends 3. f

5 The main section 1 has a reduced extension 5 fitting in thecuttersection, the meeting faces ofthe two parts of the cutter sectionbeing recessed for the reception thereof. Reduced extension 5 has anannular groove 5 0 therein, bolts 6, which hold the two parts of thecutter section together, resting in said groove to rotatably lock thecutter section on said extension. Removable bushings 7 may be interposedbetween the meeting faces of and additional bolts 8 may be used tolockthe two parts of the cutter section 2 together.

In deep well drilling operations, the weight of the drill pipe is sogreat,and a bit is sub- 4o ]e'cted to such strains, that it is mostdiflicult to provide supports stron roller cutters firmly an ead. And inroller bits of this general type, that is, bits embodying a head havingoppositely disposed depending walls from which the cutter spindlesproject, it has been impossible, from a practical standpoint, tomakesaid -walls sufficiently strong to properly support enough to hold theimmovably in the to the cutters under the most trying conditions,

preferred embodiments of and at the same time preserve substantially thesize and design of the head; The said walls are accordingly bentinwardly when the cutters of a bit attached to a heavy string u 'of pipehave been subjected to impact.

This invention provides means to positively support. the cutters withoutimpairing the cutting action thereof. The means referred to is shown. asa beveled or substantially frusto-conical gear 9 non-rotatably locked onthe lower end of extension 5, and having teeth meshing with the teeth ofthe cutters 4.

The head is provided with a central water course 11 extending throughextension 5,

branch water courses 12 cdmmunicating with annular chamber 13, andoutlets 14. The gear 9 has an opening 9 to permit the discharge of waterbetween the cutters 4 and directly upon the bottom of the hole. Theoutlets 14 are four in number and are so arranged that veater will bethereby discharged upon those teeth of the cutters and gear immediatelyadjacent the engaged teeth thereof.

Suitable shields 15'may be used to confine theflow of the cleaning waterand thus increase the velocity' thereof, and to prevent the entrybetween the cutters and gear of large stones and the'like.

When the head 1 and its integral extension 7 5 and gear 9 locked thereonare rotated and the cutters 4 are in contact with the bottom of thehole, the gear 9 rolls the cutters around the bottom of the hole, thecutter section 2 rotating on the extension 5. The outlets 14 disposedback of the engaged teethof the gear and cutters will dischargecleaningwater upon the teeth about to become engaged; and the outlets 14in front of the engaged teeth will discharge cleaning Water upon theteeth which have just been disengag'ed. As shown clearly in Figs. 2 and3, the outlets 14 discharge water upon the cutting teethin a directionlongitudinal of said teeth, and, therefore, down the valleys there Thusthe teeth of the cutters are subjected successively to the initialcleaning water, the cleaning gear teeth, and to, the ultlmate cleaningwater.

' "In the modification illustrated by Fig. 5, p

an idlergear. It

the head 16 has a centrally disposed recess 16, in which gear 17 isrotatable. The gear may be held in place by cutters 18, and providedwith ball bearings 19. The water courses shown correspond to those ofFigs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, hereinabove described. In the form shownby Figs. 1,2, 3 and 4, the gear 9 is the driving element and the cutters 4 thedriven. In themodificationof which Fig. 5.is illustrative, the gear'l?not the driving element but, instead, the driven. It may be pro erlyreferred to as, rovi es substantially the same support for t e cutters18, it cleans said cutters in substantially the same manner, and itinsures equal rotation of said cutters. This modification isparticularly advantageous because ofthe housing within the head of thegear 17 and its bearings 19. A single piece cutter section may besubstituted for the longitudinally divisible cutter section 2 shown inFigs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and means provided whereby the cutters 4 may belaterally slidable into and out of the recess i in the bottom thereof. 5

Various other changes will be apparent to those skilled in'the art, andthe hereinafter appearin claims are not limited in scope to the speci cembodiments shown.

Iclaim:

1. In a drill, a substantially conical roller cutter having longitudinalcutting teeth and a substantially conical support, said support beingrotatable with respect to said cutter and having teeth meshing with thecutting teeth of said cutter.

2. In a drill, a head, oppositely disposed substantially conical rollercutters on' said head, said cutters having cutting teeth, and asubstantially conical support between said cutters, said support beingrotatable with respect'to said cuttersand having teeth meshing with theteeth of saidcutters.

3. In a drill, ahead, oppositely spindles on said head, said spindlesprojecting downwardly and inwardly, substantially conical roller cutterson said spindles, said cutters having cutting teeth, and a beveled gearbetweensaid cutters and having teeth meshing with the teeth of saidcutters.

4. In a drill, a head having a main section and a cutter section, rollercutters on said cutter section, said cutters having cutting teeth, and agear on said main section, said gear having teeth meshing with the teethof said cutters.

' 5. In a drill, a head, a roller cutter on said head, said cutterhaving cutting teeth, and a support for said cutter, said supporthavingteeth, said disposed a support for said cutter, said support havingteeth meshing with the teeth of said cutter, and said head having awater course to discharge water upon said cutter adjacent the engagedteeth of said cutter and support, and in adirection longitudinally ofthe teeth of said. cutter.

7, Inca bit of the class described, the come bination of: a body adaptedto be secured to a'drill'pipe', said'body beingpr'ovided with' drivingteeth; acutter'support rotatable on said body; and a cutter retained bysaid outter support and being provided with cutting driving teeth onsaid body being engaged with said cutting teeth on said cutter.

8. In a drill bit, the combination of:-a

body adapted to be secured to a drill pipe,

said body'bei'ng provided with driving gear teeth; a cutter supportrotatable on said body; and -a cutter'retaine .v by said cutter supportand being provided with cutting teeth, said-cutting teeth engaging thesaid driving teeth on said body.

.' JOHN-C. STOKES.

teeth meshing with the teeth of said cutter,

course to dis

